The Plymouth State University Softball team traveled to UMass Dartmouth this past Saturday and swept the Corsairs in two games by the scores 8-0 and 11-3 in their season opener. The victory extends their winning streak from their Florida trip to an impressive 10 games.
The first win for PSU was lead by several members of the team, the biggest, Kay LaBrie’s two run homer in the fourth inning of the first game. Also contributing the eight runs scored in the game were Kortney Nedeau and Danielle Normand, who each drove in two runs respectively. The Panthers also played stellar defense and were led by sophomore Kat Roland, who pitched an outstanding game. She pitched a shutout with 4 hits, no walks and 10 strikeouts. The second game was more of the same for PSU. The Panthers scored nine of their 11 runs after only three innings. The offense that was there for the first game stuck around for the second game, but this time it was different players making key hits. In the first inning, five of the 11 runs were scored with the help of Andrea Pydynkowski and Jenna George who both drove runs in off of singles. George and Pydynkowski drove in two and four runs apiece. Kay LaBrie continued a strong day in the batter’s box with three runs, as did first-year Melissa Caiazzo. The PSU pitching continued to be lights out with junior Courtney MacFarland pitching a very solid 5 innings and getting the win. That game brought her record up to an impressive 4-1.
With ten wins under their belt the team will not be losing focus anytime soon, in fact they are making that a priority, said first-year Kortney Nadeau, “We need to make sure we stay consistent and not get too cocky. We need to continue playing with confidence.” She went on to praise the defensive efforts of Kat Roland, “She’s 4-0 and staying strong on the mound.” Nadeau said. Lori Pettengill added, “She’s been really tight at shortstop with her defense.”
“It’s good to carry on where we left off from Florida. We just need to keep playing and not play down to any team,” Nadeau said. As of Tuesday, April 1 the team’s overall record is 10-2, with a Little East Conference record of 2-0. With four games coming this week at Eastern Connecticut and home against Castleton, the team will have to play some very sharp games to continue their streak.